The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

As Sun spoke, she burst into heart-wrenching sobs. Seeing this, Ningxiang shook her head and said, "Madam, you're overthinking it. How could Master still have feelings for that woman? If he did, why would he have allowed her to be imprisoned for so many years?"

Madam, think about it. In that dark and gloomy place, guarded by those few people, even if that woman doesn't die, she'll just be clinging to life. Even if Master has those thoughts, once that woman loses her former beauty, Master will never rekindle their relationship.

"Madam, as the saying goes, there's plenty of time in the future. In the end, Master will share the same coffin as you. No one can take that place away from him. Madam, don't cry. Master is still yours, and he must be yours."

"Really?"

Just then, Qiu Lingfeng, who had just arrived at the door of Sun's room, heard faint crying. After Ningxiang finished speaking, she understood that her mother was getting stuck on something again.

She slowly walked in, poured a cup of tea for Madam Sun, placed it in her hand, then held her hand and said with a smile, "Mother, calm down, let your daughter tell you something."

Madam Sun looked at Qiu Lingfeng, who said, "Mother, do you feel that Father doesn't care about you because he treated Sixth Sister well and even went to find Grandmother for it?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun sneered: "Isn't that so?"

Qiu Lingfeng patiently said, "Mother, think about it carefully. If Father really did this because of her mother, then why didn't he do it back then? At that time, there were such beautiful women, yet Father didn't fall for them. Why would he do such a thing after fifteen years?"

Everyone says that fathers have a penchant for beautiful women, and this daughter agrees. But nowadays, that woman is probably not even as good as the maids in our household. How could Father offend you, Mother, who is at the height of her power, for her sake?

Haha, Mother, you probably don't know this! At your age, many women have graying temples and wrinkles all over their faces, but there aren't many who still have the beauty of their youth like you, Mother.

"Mother, you need to be more confident. If Father truly didn't like you, why would he stay here every night? There are plenty of ladies in the household, yet how many nights a month does Father actually spend at your place?"

Sun blushed at what was said, and his anger subsided by half. He hesitated as he looked at Qiu Lingfeng: "Are you telling the truth? Where is my youthful beauty? I'm all old now."

Qiu Lingfeng smiled, got up and went to the dressing table. Then she took a bronze mirror and handed it to Madam Sun, saying with a smile, "Mother's words don't count. You have to see for yourself. There are quite a few vixens in the backyard. Which one of them doesn't need rouge and powder to dress up? But after removing their makeup, how many of them can compare to Mother?"

This is fake, of course it's fake, and its novelty will only last a few days. Mother, you are the real, original beauty. Is Father foolish enough to abandon a beauty like you to favor those with wrinkled faces?

Seeing that Madam Sun was moved, Qiu Lingfeng continued, "Father treats Sixth Sister so well because he doesn't want her to feel that he favors one over the other. After all, this is the time to use her. Wouldn't it be better if she felt that Father doted on her?"

They'll make her grateful, make her inseparable from the Qiu family, and in the end, they'll just tie her to the Qiu family so that she'll wholeheartedly serve them after she gets married.

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun sighed, "Forget it. I've had this weighing on my mind for so many years, and now I know I shouldn't have done this. Since it was all for your sake, I brought her back, and I'll surely know her current position. I was just overthinking things and worrying unnecessarily."

Qiu Lingfeng got up and walked to Sun's side. She reached out and pressed her forehead, comforting her, "Mother, that girl is nothing to fear. She has nothing of value, is greedy and cowardly, doesn't know how to say a kind word, and is as timid as a mouse. If she really marries into the family and faces the powerful Princess, won't she have to rely on the Qiu family to support her? She is nothing to fear at all."

Sun's words calmed her down considerably, but she still said, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. Lingfeng, you should be careful. We haven't had much contact with this wretched girl, so how would we know if she's being genuine or not?"

You can't be too careful, otherwise, you'll regret it when things go wrong. Even though I was forced to take her under my wing and give her the status of a legitimate child, she's still just a worthless bastard. You need to keep her firmly under your control.”

Qiu Lingfeng nodded, and Madam Sun sighed, "These past few days, my heart has been hanging in suspense. I always felt that if this matter didn't reach the final step, it might capsize. Ningxiang is right. Your father will eventually be buried in the same coffin as me. Who can control that? Whether he and I are of one mind or not is obvious."

"I'm just so annoyed. Seeing that girl gain power, seeing all the things I prepared for you and Rong'er end up in that bitch's hands, it makes my heart ache."

Qiu Lingfeng smiled upon hearing this, sat down, and said softly, "They are all material possessions, why should Mother care? If we use this money to win over Sixth Sister's heart, wouldn't our relationship with the Young Master be even closer?"

As she spoke, a hint of annoyance flashed in Qiu Lingfeng's eyes. Seeing this, Madam Sun frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Is the Crown Prince treating you badly?"

Qiu Lingfeng shook her head, biting her lip for a long time before saying, "It's nothing, it's just that the Crown Prince hasn't contacted me these past few days, and I'm a little worried. But if I go to find him myself, I feel that I would lose my ladylike dignity."

Madam Sun's face immediately lit up with a smile. She patted Qiu Lingfeng's hand and said, "What's there to be shy about? Men usually like women to take the initiative. You are the Empress's chosen Crown Princess, so it's only natural for you to take the initiative. Who would say anything? Could it be that the Crown Prince told you these things?"

Qiu Lingfeng blushed slightly, shook her head and whispered, "No, the Crown Prince never said any of that. He is always gentle and refined when he is with me, and he would never say anything to me."

However, after Mother went to the palace the day before yesterday, the Crown Prince sent a letter saying that because His Majesty had bestowed the marriage upon the eldest daughter of the Qiu family, and the situation was still unclear, to avoid conflict, the Crown Prince should avoid suspicion, and therefore had not come over these days, telling his daughter not to overthink it.

Madam Sun nodded, satisfied, and said, "The Crown Prince is a steady and reliable person. I like his wisdom; he cherishes you."

Qiu Lingfeng nodded shyly and said, "The letter also mentioned that the Empress went to see the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess was vague and did not give a clear answer. Originally, I wanted to come and tell you, but Prime Minister, the Marquis of Qingyan's heir acted so quickly and has already made the betrothal. My news is superfluous."

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun felt somewhat relieved, then sneered, "Yes, what about my legitimate daughter? I've taken this slut into my hands, and she still has to live with my status as her legitimate daughter. It's really too good for her."

Qiu Lingfeng shook her head: "Mother, this is just a title. As long as she can get married quickly, none of this matters. What matters is that you can't argue with Father about Lingxiu anymore. It will only affect your relationship with Father. It will only benefit others."

Sun said helplessly, "Alright, I know your mother. I won't hold it against her. It's just some jewelry. If it's gone, I'll earn it back for you. It's no big deal."

Since this girl wants to be in the limelight, then I'll give her plenty of it. I want to see just how capable she is. She can't escape our grasp, can she?

"By the way, have you visited her these past two days? Did you instruct her on all the proper etiquette? Although she's not exactly a good person, we can't let her tarnish the reputation of our Qiu family."

Qiu Lingfeng shook her head: "I was planning to go, but yesterday Father suddenly sent word that Sixth Sister should not go there, no one is allowed."

Madam Sun frowned, and then heard Qiu Lingfeng suddenly whisper, "I heard from the servants that Second Sister stopped the young master on his way to see Lingxiu, and caused quite a commotion. So, the young master got angry and said that the Qiu family's rules were bad and that they couldn't teach people properly, so he forbade anyone to teach Lingxiu anything."

Madam Sun raised an eyebrow, then sneered: "I thought the second wife was honest, but I didn't expect her to be the most restless. Oh well, it's just dogs fighting. Since your father didn't punish Lingxue, he must have some plans."

Now that the young master is interested in Lingxiu, he naturally favors her in every way. I only hope to marry Jianyue off to him as soon as possible, only then can I put my mind at ease.

Sun rubbed her temples; although the initial urge had passed, she still felt uneasy.

Jian Yue's appearance was something she had never expected.

She was in the cellar with her mentally unstable mother, yet she managed to escape death and escape, entering Qiu Zhenzhou's field of vision and saving her life.

Although she tried every means to get rid of the person, and even the so-called bandits along the way were all assassins she had hired, and she secretly hired many people to carry out the assassinations along the way, she still couldn't kill this thorn in her side, let alone let him reappear alive and kicking under the Qiu family's nose.

Moreover, she personally invited it back.

Thinking of this, Madam Sun looked at Qiu Lingfeng and instructed her: "Remember what I just told you. Don't think that just because that girl is greedy for money, she's just after treasures."

Her survival until now, and even her safe return to the manor, is not a coincidence, Mother. Therefore, when she returns, you should still go and have a good talk with her, learn more about her, and see what kind of person she truly is.

"Okay, Mother, I understand."

Qiu Lingfeng nodded, but didn't take it to heart. She had already placed so many people in Jian Yue's courtyard and had a complete grasp of what was going on there.

If it weren't for the fierce maidservant by her side who could fight against thousands single-handedly, she probably wouldn't have survived on the estate and endured until they brought her back.

She knew absolutely nothing about what her mother had done back then; she was just too young to understand it in detail.

As for this girl, she loathed her even more, because she would make Sun Shi sad. If she died sooner, it would be a good thing to remove the thorn in Sun Shi's heart.